The Age of Innocence 纯真年代

It was all very well to tell yourself in advance thatMrs. van der Luyden was always silent, and that, thoughnon-committal by nature and training, she was verykind to the people she really liked. Even personalexperience of these facts was not always a protection fromthe chill that descended on one in the high-ceilingedwhite-walled Madison Avenue drawing-room, with thepale brocaded armchairs so obviously uncovered forthe occasion, and the gauze still veiling the ormolumantel ornaments and the beautiful old carved frameof Gainsborough's "Lady Angelica du Lac."

Mrs. van der Luyden's portrait by Huntington (inblack velvet and Venetian point) faced that of herlovely ancestress. It was generally considered "as fineas a Cabanel," and, though twenty years had elapsedsince its execution, was still "a perfect likeness."Indeed the Mrs. van der Luyden who sat beneath itlistening to Mrs. Archer might have been the twin-sisterof the fair and still youngish woman drooping against agilt armchair before a green rep curtain. Mrs. van derLuyden still wore black velvet and Venetian point whenshe went into society--or rather (since she never dinedout) when she threw open her own doors to receive it.Her fair hair, which had faded without turning grey,was still parted in flat overlapping points on her forehead,and the straight nose that divided her pale blueeyes was only a little more pinched about the nostrilsthan when the portrait had been painted. She always,indeed, struck Newland Archer as having been rathergruesomely preserved in the airless atmosphere of aperfectly irreproachable existence, as bodies caught inglaciers keep for years a rosy life-in-death.

Like all his family, he esteemed and admired Mrs.van der Luyden; but he found her gentle bending sweetnessless approachable than the grimness of some of hismother's old aunts, fierce spinsters who said "No" onprinciple before they knew what they were going to beasked.

Mrs. van der Luyden's attitude said neither yes norno, but always appeared to incline to clemency till herthin lips, wavering into the shadow of a smile, madethe almost invariable reply: "I shall first have to talkthis over with my husband."

She and Mr. van der Luyden were so exactly alikethat Archer often wondered how, after forty years ofthe closest conjugality, two such merged identities everseparated themselves enough for anything as controversialas a talking-over. But as neither had ever reached adecision without prefacing it by this mysteriousconclave, Mrs. Archer and her son, having set forth theircase, waited resignedly for the familiar phrase.

Mrs. van der Luyden, however, who had seldomsurprised any one, now surprised them by reaching herlong hand toward the bell-rope.

然而很少让人意外的范德卢顿太太这时却令母子二人大吃一惊：她伸出长长的手去够铃绳。

"I think," she said, "I should like Henry to hearwhat you have told me."

“我想，”她说道，“我要让亨利听一听你对我讲的情况。”

A footman appeared, to whom she gravely added:"If Mr. van der Luyden has finished reading thenewspaper, please ask him to be kind enough to come."

一名男仆出现了，她又严肃地对他说：“如果范德卢顿先生读完了报，请他劳神过来一趟。”

She said "reading the newspaper" in the tone inwhich a Minister's wife might have said: "Presiding ata Cabinet meeting"--not from any arrogance of mind,but because the habit of a life-time, and the attitude ofher friends and relations, had led her to consider Mr.van der Luyden's least gesture as having an almostsacerdotal importance.

Her promptness of action showed that she consideredthe case as pressing as Mrs. Archer; but, lest sheshould be thought to have committed herself in advance,she added, with the sweetest look: "Henry alwaysenjoys seeing you, dear Adeline; and he will wishto congratulate Newland."

The double doors had solemnly reopened and betweenthem appeared Mr. Henry van der Luyden, tall,spare and frock-coated, with faded fair hair, a straightnose like his wife's and the same look of frozen gentlenessin eyes that were merely pale grey instead of paleblue.

Mr. van der Luyden greeted Mrs. Archer with cousinlyaffability, proffered to Newland low-voicedcongratulations couched in the same language as his wife's,and seated himself in one of the brocade armchairswith the simplicity of a reigning sovereign.

范德卢顿先生以表亲的和蔼与阿切尔太太打过招呼，又用跟妻子同样的措辞向纽兰低声表示了祝贺，然后又以在位君主的简洁在一张锦缎扶手椅里就坐。

"I had just finished reading the Times," he said,laying his long finger-tips together. "In town my morningsare so much occupied that I find it more convenientto read the newspapers after luncheon."

“我刚刚读完《纽约时报》，”他说，一面把长长的指尖收拢在一起。“在城里上午事情太多，我发现午饭后读报更合适。”

"Ah, there's a great deal to be said for that plan--indeed I think my uncle Egmont used to say he found itless agitating not to read the morning papers till afterdinner," said Mrs. Archer responsively.

“噢，这样安排是很有道理的——我想我舅舅埃格蒙特过去确实常常说，他发现把晨报留到晚餐后读，不会使人心烦意乱，”阿切尔太太附和地说。

"Yes: my good father abhorred hurry. But now welive in a constant rush," said Mr. van der Luyden inmeasured tones, looking with pleasant deliberation aboutthe large shrouded room which to Archer was so completean image of its owners.

"Oh, it's really Newland's story," said his mothersmiling; and proceeded to rehearse once more the monstroustale of the affront inflicted on Mrs. Lovell Mingott.

“哦，其实是纽兰的事，”母亲面带笑容地说，接着又复述了一遍洛弗尔·明戈特太太蒙受公开侮辱的咄咄怪事。

"Of course," she ended, "Augusta Welland and MaryMingott both felt that, especially in view of Newland'sengagement, you and Henry OUGHT TO KNOW."

“当然，”她最后说，“奥古斯塔·韦兰跟玛丽·明戈特都认为——尤其是考虑到纽兰的订婚——你和亨利是应当知道的。”

"Ah--" said Mr. van der Luyden, drawing a deepbreath.

“噢——”范德卢顿先生深深吸了一口气说。

There was a silence during which the tick of themonumental ormolu clock on the white marble mantelpiecegrew as loud as the boom of a minute-gun. Archercontemplated with awe the two slender faded figures,seated side by side in a kind of viceregal rigidity,mouthpieces of some remote ancestral authority which fatecompelled them to wield, when they would so muchrather have lived in simplicity and seclusion, digginginvisible weeds out of the perfect lawns of Skuytercliff,and playing Patience together in the evenings.

"You really think this is due to some--someintentional interference of Lawrence Lefferts's?" he enquired,turning to Archer.

“你真的以为这是劳伦斯·莱弗茨故意——捣乱的结果吗？”他转向阿切尔问道。

"I'm certain of it, sir. Larry has been going it ratherharder than usual lately--if cousin Louisa won't mindmy mentioning it--having rather a stiff affair with thepostmaster's wife in their village, or some one of thatsort; and whenever poor Gertrude Lefferts begins tosuspect anything, and he's afraid of trouble, he gets upa fuss of this kind, to show how awfully moral he is,and talks at the top of his voice about the impertinenceof inviting his wife to meet people he doesn't wish herto know. He's simply using Madame Olenska as alightning-rod; I've seen him try the same thing oftenbefore."

"We'll hope it has not quite come to that," said Mr.van der Luyden firmly.

“我们但愿还没到那种地步，”范德卢顿先生坚定地说。

"Ah, if only you and Louisa went out more!" sighedMrs. Archer.

“唉，要是你和路易莎多出去走走就好了！”阿切尔太太叹息道。

But instantly she became aware of her mistake. Thevan der Luydens were morbidly sensitive to any criticismof their secluded existence. They were the arbitersof fashion, the Court of last Appeal, and they knew it,and bowed to their fate. But being shy and retiringpersons, with no natural inclination for their part, theylived as much as possible in the sylvan solitude ofSkuytercliff, and when they came to town, declined allinvitations on the plea of Mrs. van der Luyden's health.

Newland Archer came to his mother's rescue."Everybody in New York knows what you and cousinLouisa represent. That's why Mrs. Mingott felt sheought not to allow this slight on Countess Olenska topass without consulting you."

"It is the principle that I dislike," said Mr. van derLuyden. "As long as a member of a well-known familyis backed up by that family it should be considered--final."

“我不喜欢那种做法，”范德卢顿先生说。“只要出身名门的人受到家族的支持，就应该把这种支持看作是——永远不变的。”

"It seems so to me," said his wife, as if she wereproducing a new thought.

“我也有同感，”他妻子仿佛提出一种新观点似地说。

"I had no idea," Mr. van der Luyden continued,"that things had come to such a pass." He paused, andlooked at his wife again. "It occurs to me, my dear,that the Countess Olenska is already a sort of relation--through Medora Manson's first husband. At any rate,she will be when Newland marries." He turned towardthe young man. "Have you read this morning's Times,Newland?"

"Why, yes, sir," said Archer, who usually tossed offhalf a dozen papers with his morning coffee.

“当然，读过了，先生，”阿切尔说，他通常在早晨喝咖啡时匆匆翻阅报纸。

Husband and wife looked at each other again. Theirpale eyes clung together in prolonged and seriousconsultation; then a faint smile fluttered over Mrs. van derLuyden's face. She had evidently guessed and approved.

Mr. van der Luyden turned to Mrs. Archer. "If Louisa'shealth allowed her to dine out--I wish you wouldsay to Mrs. Lovell Mingott--she and I would havebeen happy to--er--fill the places of the LawrenceLeffertses at her dinner." He paused to let the irony ofthis sink in. "As you know, this is impossible." Mrs.Archer sounded a sympathetic assent. "But Newlandtells me he has read this morning's Times; therefore hehas probably seen that Louisa's relative, the Duke ofSt. Austrey, arrives next week on the Russia. He iscoming to enter his new sloop, the Guinevere, in nextsummer's International Cup Race; and also to have alittle canvasback shooting at Trevenna." Mr. van derLuyden paused again, and continued with increasingbenevolence: "Before taking him down to Marylandwe are inviting a few friends to meet him here--only alittle dinner--with a reception afterward. I am sureLouisa will be as glad as I am if Countess Olenska willlet us include her among our guests." He got up, benthis long body with a stiff friendliness toward his cousin,and added: "I think I have Louisa's authority for sayingthat she will herself leave the invitation to dinewhen she drives out presently: with our cards--of coursewith our cards."

Mrs. Archer, who knew this to be a hint that theseventeen-hand chestnuts which were never kept waitingwere at the door, rose with a hurried murmur ofthanks. Mrs. van der Luyden beamed on her with thesmile of Esther interceding with Ahasuerus; but herhusband raised a protesting hand.

"There is nothing to thank me for, dear Adeline;nothing whatever. This kind of thing must not happenin New York; it shall not, as long as I can help it," hepronounced with sovereign gentleness as he steered hiscousins to the door.

Two hours later, every one knew that the greatC-spring barouche in which Mrs. van der Luydentook the air at all seasons had been seen at oldMrs. Mingott's door, where a large square envelopewas handed in; and that evening at the Opera Mr.Sillerton Jackson was able to state that the envelopecontained a card inviting the Countess Olenskato the dinner which the van der Luydens were givingthe following week for their cousin, the Dukeof St. Austrey.

Some of the younger men in the club box exchangeda smile at this announcement, and glanced sideways atLawrence Lefferts, who sat carelessly in the front of thebox, pulling his long fair moustache, and who remarkedwith authority, as the soprano paused: "No one but Patti ought to attempt the Sonnambula."